Two doctor-lawmakers urged the Department of Health (DOH) to adjust its policy on the deployment of vaccines, saying a “shotgun therapy” on vaccines is a wrong approach in addressing the spread of Covid-19.
Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, who are former medical practitioners before shifting to politics, asked the DOH to be proactive and not reactive in its vaccine distribution to save more lives amid the pandemic.
According to Tan, it seems that the surge in cases in some provinces and cities is the main focus of the DOH in the distribution of vaccines.
“I think the DOH should adjust its policy in the deployment of coronavirus vaccines to ensure a more effective battle against the pandemic. Vaccines should be distributed with or without surge in Covid-19 cases because the main objective is to control the infections,” she said.
“We need time [after the vaccination] for the protection from the vaccine to develop. The surge in cases will not go down because [after vaccination]…they [the recipients] need time [two weeks] to have full immunity after getting their second dose,” she added.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker lauded the Duterte administration for committing to fast-track vaccine distribution in the provinces as more local officials have been requesting the national government to deploy more vaccines to the provinces following the surge in Visayas and Mindanao.
The Palace has already appealed to local governments outside Metro Manila “for a little more patience,” saying once supplies arrive, the vaccines will be distributed to the provinces immediately.
“We are one with our government to ensure the successful fight against the pandemic. But I appeal to modify the DOH’s policy in the distribution of vaccines to make the campaign more effective,” Tan said.
For her part, Garin also reminded the DOH that prevention is still better than cure.
“We have heard of this time and time again because the
statement is true especially in public health,” she said.
“We have been patient when NCR [National Capital Region] was prioritized but the inequitable distribution and chaotic allocation never stops.
Bakit kung saan mas mataas ang mga kaso, ay doon binubuhos ang mga bakuna? Are the number of confirmed cases really reliable as a parameter? How many are not tested? How many are not declared? How many do not even know they have it?” Garin asked.
Garin also noted that people needs at least one month after the second dose to have their full immunity, which “is roughly 2 to 15 months after the initial dose, depending on the vaccine given.”
Storing second doses because implementors are blind on when and how many are coming on subsequent weeks result to missed opportunities of protection,” she added.
Garin, a former health secretary, also said equitable distribution of vaccine supply should also be implemented.
“Why do we vaccinate? To prevent deaths, reduce ICU utilization, reduce hospitalization and reduce transmission,” Garin added.
The government has identified economic hubs Metro Manila, Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, Rizal, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao as priority vaccination areas.
Also, with the increasing number of infections in other areas, 10 cities have been added to the list of priorities. These are Baguio, Tuguegarao, Naga, Legazpi, Bacolod, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga and General Santos.